A ceremony with a combative speech delivered by the President of Sindmóveis, Henrique Tecchio, opened the 20th Movelsul Brasil, the major fair of furniture and accessories for the retail sector in Latin America. The event had the historical presence of several former presidents of the show and the State governor, José Ivo Sartori.

In his speech, President Henrique Tecchio pointed out that, after the boom in the consumption of furniture between 2008 and 2012, when the middle class was the center of attention, its aftermath significantly affected the furniture industry. The president cited economic data showing the degrading performance of the segment: "In 2015, the furniture industry sales fell by 13.4%. Second only to the car industry, the furniture sector had the worst sector-based performance in the year. How could the so-called workers’ government be able to cut thousands of jobs in 2015 throughout the country?".

The Mayor of Bento Gonçalves, Guilherme Pasin, pointed out that Movelsul Brasil expresses the development of the woodworking sector. "What I see in these pavilions is the thousands of jobs that sustain Bento Gonçalves’ economy. This fair shows that yes we can contribute to the changes that our nation so desperately needs," he says.

Also in an optimistic speech, Governor José Ivo Sartori praised the commitment of the furniture industry to this year’s Movelsul Brasil 2016, noting that we cannot overlook the reality, but difficulties cannot paralyze initiatives such as this fair. According to him, this business environment expresses the industry's commitment to reinvent and transform itself according to the circumstances - something that the government should also do. "When the government is not able to do something, it must not stand in the way of those who do it. We will do what needs to be done, when it has to be done, as long as the society accepts it."

Nevertheless, Tecchio celebrated the historical 20th Movelsul Brasil, pointing out that the industry has faced other prior crises and this was precisely when the industry united efforts to search for technology and innovation to increase their competitiveness. "It is not by chance we are holding the 20th show. Bento Gonçalves is home to major events for the industry, and Movelsul Brasil is still an opportunity to boost business locally, in Brazil and around the world. Let's remember this moment as one of those when we devote even more energy into overcoming external constraints," he says.

Movelsul will be held until next Friday, March 18, featuring 238 manufacturers of furniture for offices, kitchens, bedrooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms, living and dining rooms in addition to garden furniture, home appliances, rugs, upholstered goods and mattresses.  Sponsored by Duratex, Renner Sayerlack and Banrisul,  the fair expects to receive more than 30,00 trade visitors and is estimated to generate approximately $300 million in business over a period of 12 months.

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Movelsul Brasil 2016

What: Furniture and accessories fair aimed at shopkeepers and specifiers

When: March 14 – 18, 2016.  Noon to 8 pm

Where: Parque de Eventos in Bento Gonçalves

Exhibitors: 238 from seven states (Minas Gerais, Pará, Pernambuco, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina e São Paulo)

Free admission – registration required. Open only for professional visitors.  (shopkeepers, sales representatives, architects, designers, interior designers, importers, professionals from the building business and the press)

For more information: www.movelsul.com.br